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Biogeographic barrier that protects Australia from avian flu does not stop Nipah virus

Date:

April 24, 2013

Source:

Public Library of Science

Summary:

An invisible barrier separates land animals in Australia from those in south-east Asia may also restrict the spillover of animal-borne diseases like avian flu, but researchers have found that fruit bats on either side of this line can carry Nipah virus, a pathogen that causes severe human disease.

An invisible barrier separates land animals in Australia from those in south-east Asia may also restrict the spillover of animal-borne diseases like avian flu, but researchers have found that fruit bats on either side of this line can carry Nipah virus, a pathogen that causes severe human disease.

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The findings are published April 24 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Andrew Breed from the University of Queensland, Australia and colleagues from other institutions.

Previous studies have suggested that this biogeographic boundary, named Wallace's line, may have played a role in protecting Australia from the spread of the avian flu H5N1. In the current study, researchers assessed whether this boundary could restrict the distribution of Nipah virus, which has caused severe outbreaks of human and domestic animal disease in the past.

"We found evidence that Nipah Virus occurs on the eastern side of Wallace's Line and much closer to Australia than previously recognized," says Breed. "We also found that the epidemiology of Nipah virus, and related viruses, is complex and these viruses are not restricted to flying-foxes (Pteropus bats) in this region."

They found that fruit bats from regions on both sides of the line tested positive for Nipah virus and other related viruses called henipaviruses. Only certain species of fruit bats carried Nipah virus but even in their absence, other bat species could still carry these related viruses. Henipaviruses were also detected in some species not previously known to carry these viruses. Based on these results, the authors conclude that Wallace's line is not a restricting factor for the transmission of Nipah virus. Their results also extend the known regions where Nipah virus has been detected by over 2500 km, to the island of Timor.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Public Library of Science. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Public Library of Science. "Biogeographic barrier that protects Australia from avian flu does not stop Nipah virus." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 April 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130424185155.htm>.

Public Library of Science. (2013, April 24). Biogeographic barrier that protects Australia from avian flu does not stop Nipah virus. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 31, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130424185155.htm

Public Library of Science. "Biogeographic barrier that protects Australia from avian flu does not stop Nipah virus." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130424185155.htm (accessed March 31, 2015).

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